Find out how popular the last name Shaper is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Shaper.

Shaper, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Shaper surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shaper in America

Shaper is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shaper surname appeared 137 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Shaper.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shaper to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Shaper

The surname SHAPER is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "sceppere," which refers to a craftsman or maker of various items.

During the medieval period, the name was primarily found in regions such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where many skilled craftsmen and artisans were based. Historical records suggest that some of the earliest bearers of the SHAPER surname were involved in trades like woodworking, metalworking, and even shoemaking.

One of the earliest documented instances of the SHAPER name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a "Willelmus le Shaper." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century, indicating its long-standing presence in England.

In the 14th century, the SHAPER surname appeared in various manorial records and tax rolls, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which listed a "Johannes Shaper." This provides further evidence of the name's widespread use across different regions of England during this time period.

One notable historical figure with the SHAPER surname was Thomas Shaper (c. 1460-1530), a prominent merchant and alderman from the city of Bristol. He was known for his involvement in the city's wool trade and served as mayor of Bristol in 1512.

Another individual of note was John Shaper (c. 1520-1587), who was a respected goldsmith and jeweler based in London. His work was highly regarded, and he was commissioned to create pieces for the English royal court during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the SHAPER name can be found in various parish records, such as the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, which mention a "William Shaper" in 1642. This further solidifies the surname's presence in England during this era.

One notable bearer of the SHAPER surname in the 18th century was Samuel Shaper (1724-1798), a renowned clockmaker from Lincolnshire. His intricate and beautifully crafted timepieces were highly sought after and can be found in various museums and private collections today.

In the 19th century, the SHAPER surname gained prominence in the field of engineering and manufacturing. William Shaper (1805-1878), a pioneering engineer from Yorkshire, was credited with developing innovative machinery for the textile industry, which greatly improved production efficiency.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shaper

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Shaper.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Shaper was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Shaper has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Shaper was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Shaper, please contact us.

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